UPDATED: Pair given life sentences after being found guilty of Adam Fanelli murder at Nash Park

Tom Burton

Two men have been given life sentences after being found guilty of murdering scrap metal dealer Adam Fanelli at the Nash Park caravan site.

Jemma Price, 30, and Addy McAllister, 34, were sentenced at Luton Crown Court after Mr Fanelli was beaten to death.

Addy McAllister

His body was discovered on a piece of waste land at the rear of the caravan site on March 17.

He had supplied the pair with cocaine and was found with 159 separate injuries.

Post-mortem tests showed Fanelli, a father-of-three who lived in Dunstable, died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Price, of Ridgeway, Kensworth and McAllister of Charlesworth Street in Chesterfield, had been seen in a vehicle with Mr Fanelli the previous day and were drinking and taking drugs with him just before his death.

Jemma Price

The two men blamed each other and claimed they had tried to stop a fight.

They were convicted after a three-week trial with Price ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years and McAllister a minimum of 14 years.

A family tribute to Mr Fanelli released yesterday read: “On 17th March 2015 our whole world fell apart and we, Adam’s family, have been left heartbroken and even now we still do not understand the actions of those who have taken his life or why.

“There is no justification whatsoever for the brutal and horrific manner in which Adam was killed and taken from us all.

“We have been deprived of a son, partner, nephew and his three little girls have been left without a daddy, one of whom he never even got to see as she was born just before his funeral.

“Adam will never get to watch his daughters grow up and share all of the special moments with them.

“He will never get to see them start and leave school, go off to college or university, get married and one day have children of their own.

“But we will do everything we can to ensure that the girls know all about their daddy and that we are there for them and keep his memory alive.

“No amount of time or punishment will ever compensate for the loss of Adam or for the anguish and heartbreak we continue to endure.

“We are now left to serve our own life sentence and we only wish that the law is changed to mean that those who commit such hideous crimes and who take a life have to serve life.

“We are grateful to those who have done their best to help and support the family through these most difficult of times.

“Thank you.”

Speaking following the convictions senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Simon Steel, from Thames Valley Police’s major crime unit said: “Price and McAllister brutally killed Adam Fanelli and no court result will ever bring him back to those who loved him.

“Mr Fanelli was a son, partner and a father to young children.

“Every day his family have to live life without him and deal with the impact of this horrific crime which has forever taken him away from them.

“However I hope this verdict provides them with some sort of resolution from what is clearly a traumatic time.

“I would like to thank everyone who was involved with today’s conviction particularly the family for their dignity, the witnesses who gave evidence in the case and everyone involved in what was a complex investigation.”

“On the morning of Tuesday, 17 March 2015, Adam’s body was found beaten to death in a small field adjacent to a small caravan site.

“Addy McAllister (known as BoyBoy) and Jemma Price, fuelled with drugs and alcohol, had viciously attacked him after an argument.

“The cause of death was blunt head/facial injuries.

“Astonishingly, 159 separate injuries were recorded at the post mortem.

“McAllister and Price are clearly extremely violent and dangerous men.

“The motive for the attack remains a mystery, but is believed to be drug related.

“Precisely why McAllister and Price chose to jointly end the life of another human being in such a brutal fashion is known only to them.

“McAllister and Price both admitted being present when a fight broke out involving Adam, but blamed each other, claimed they had each tried to stop the fight, left and were not responsible for his death.

“They pleaded not guilty to Adam’s murder, but on 24 September the jury found them guilty of his murder despite their denials.

“We have worked closely with Thames Valley Police since this investigation was launched and as a result of the hard work and diligence of the prosecution team, a just outcome has been achieved.

“We know that nothing will bring Adam back to his family and friends, but we hope that today’s conviction brings them at least a small sense that justice has been done.